GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

  1.       
    Spade (?), n. [Cf. Spay, n.]
    1. (Zool.) A hart or stag three years old. [Written also spaid, spayade.]

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    2. [Cf. L. spado.] A castrated man or beast.

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  2.       
    Spade, n. [AS. spaed; spada; akin to D. spade, G. spaten, Icel. spaði, Dan. & Sw. spade, L. spatha a spatula, a broad two-edged sword, a spathe, Gr. σπάθη.  Cf. Epaulet, Spade at cards, Spathe, Spatula.]
    1. An implement for digging or cutting the ground, consisting usually of an oblong and nearly rectangular blade of iron, with a handle like that of a shovel. “With spade and pickax armed.” Milton.

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    2. [Sp. espada, literally, a sword; -- so caused because these cards among the Spanish bear the figure of a sword. Sp. espada is fr. L. spatha, Gr. σπάθη. See the Etymology above.] One of that suit of cards each of which bears one or more figures resembling a spade.

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    “Let spades be trumps!” she said. Pope.

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    3. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.

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    Spade bayonet, a bayonet with a broad blade which may be used digging; -- called also trowel bayonet. -- Spade handle (Mach.), the forked end of a connecting rod in which a pin is held at both ends. See Illust. of Knuckle joint, under Knuckle.

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  3.       
    Spade (spād), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Spading.] To dig with a spade; to pare off the sward of, as land, with a spade.

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